By Canadian Press

Bombers blitz Riders 25-16 in CFL pre-season test

May 31, 2022 | 9:41 PM

REGINA — The Winnipeg Blue Bombers closed out their pre-season schedule Tuesday night with a 25-16 victory over the Saskatchewan Roughriders at Mosaic Stadium in Regina.

The Bombers lost their pre-season opener on May 27, a 30-20 decision to the B.C. Lions in Winnipeg. Tuesday’s game, the pre-season opener for the Riders, was originally scheduled for May 23 but was postponed because of stalled negotiations between the CFLPA and the CFL on a new collective bargaining agreement.

Both teams elected not to dress a number of the starters. Regulars who did not dress for the Blue Bombers included quarterback Zach Collaros, defensive linemen Willie Jefferson and Jackson Jeffcoat, linebacker Adam Bighill, offensive linemen Stanley Bryant and Pat Neufeld, defensive back Winston Rose, and receivers Nic Demski and Drew Wolitarsky.

Riders starters who did not dress included quarterback Cody Fajardo, receivers Shaq Evans and Duke Williams, defensive linemen Charleston Hughes and A.C. Leonard, offensive linemen Dan Clark and Logan Ferland, linebackers Darnell Sankey and Derrick Moncrief, defensive backs Nick Marshall and Mike Edem, and placekicker Brett Lauther.

Winnipeg broke the game open 2:11 into the fourth quarter when quarterback Dakota Prokup hit receiver Whop Philyor down the right sideline for a 78-yard touchdown to give the Bombers an 18-3 lead.

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Quarterback Dru Brown scored on a one-yard run five minutes into the third quarter to put the Bombers up 11-0. Winnipeg opened the scoring 1:45 into the second quarter on an 18-yard field goal by Marc Liegghio, who also added a single on a kickoff in the third quarter to make the score 4-0.

The story of the first half was the Bombers turning the ball over on downs three times inside the Riders’ 10-yard line. The first turnover came when Justin Herdman-Reed sacked Brown on third down from the Saskatchewan five-yard line. The other two turnovers came on incomplete passes by Prokop.

The Riders got on the scoresheet early in the fourth quarter on a 46-yard field goal by Henry Nell. Saskatchewan narrowed the gap to 18-10 when Fine connected with Jester Weah on a two-yard touchdown pass.

Saskatchewan made things interesting when Jake Dolegala and receiver Dieuly Aristilde combined on a 12-yard TD pass to make the score 18-16 with three minutes left in the fourth quarter. The ensuing two-point convert attempt failed when Dolegala missed Aristilde in the end zone.

The Bombers sealed the victory when Tavaris Harrison made a diving grab of a 32-yard pass from Prokop with 1:18 left in the fourth quarter.

Herdman-Reed and Pete Robertson had sacks for the Riders. Tyqwan Glass had an interception for the Bombers on Saskatchewan’s opening possession, picking off Mason Fine. L.B. Mack recorded a sack while Javon Jackson added an interception for the Bombers.

The Riders will complete their pre-season schedule on June 3 in Vancouver against the Lions.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Tuesday, May 31

Jeff DeDekker, The Canadian Press